Pastor arrested for defrauding unsuspecting members of N2.5 million for ‘spiritual deliverance’

Monday, August 10, 2026 - Operatives of the Obantoko Division of the Ogun State Police Command have arrested a suspected fake clergyman, Kehinde Makinde, popularly known as ‘Pastor Kenny’, for allegedly defrauding unsuspecting members of the public under the guise of conducting spiritual deliverance across Ogun, Osun and Oyo states.

The suspect was arrested on Monday, August 3, 2026, at about 1645hrs in Ibadan, Oyo State.

He allegedly defrauded 18 fellowship members of N2.5 million in Abeokuta, Ogun State, after falsely claiming he could sponsor them on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem.

His arrest followed investigations into allegations that he had been exploiting unsuspecting members of the public by posing as a clergyman and offering fraudulent spiritual deliverance services.

Spokesperson of the Command, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, confirmed this to newsmen in a statement in Abeokuta yesterday.

Babaseyi said that preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect allegedly obtained approximately N2.5 million from eighteen fellowship members in Saje, Adatan, under the false pretence of organising a government-sponsored pilgrimage to Jerusalem and promising each member N2 million.

He said that the suspect remains in Police custody while efforts continue to identify additional victims and apprehend his accomplices.

Babaseyi said, “Following four months of sustained intelligence gathering and discreet investigation, Detectives attached to the Obantoko Division, on 3rd August, 2026, at about 1645hrs, arrested Kehinde Makinde ‘M’, popularly known as “Pastor Kenny,” in Ibadan, Oyo State.

“The arrest followed investigations into allegations that the suspect fraudulently manipulated unsuspecting victims under the guise of spiritual deliverance across Ogun, Oyo and Osun States.

“Preliminary investigation further revealed that the suspect allegedly obtained approximately N2.5 million from eighteen fellowship members in Saje, Adatan, under the false pretence of organising a government-sponsored pilgrimage to Jerusalem and promising each member N2 million,” he added.